The Hall County Board of Commissioners is looking at ways to promote the county’s new animal shelter.

At today’s 5 p.m. board meeting, commissioners will discuss waiving all adoption fees in December.

Commissioner Bobby Banks said he hopes the commission will vote to do this for the animals living in the shelter.

"We’ve got to get them adopted," Banks said. "We do not want to have to euthanize any of them."

Mike Ledford, director of Hall County Animal Control, said a number of things must be discussed before the county can sign off on the program.

"It’s really in the preliminary stage," Ledford said.

There are about 375 animals in the shelter, which has a capacity of 450. The shelter has only been open since Oct. 15, and is nearly full in less than a month.

Ledford said there are a number of issues, pro and con, that must be discussed before county officials can make such a move. He thinks a free adoption month could be a good idea as long as the shelter ensures that people are serious about being pet owners.

"We want to get them adopted into good homes," Ledford said. "The emphasis is to a good home. We want to make sure they’re going to be in a better situation than they would be here."

Hall County’s first animal shelter opened last month following months of construction delays due to months of rainy weather.

Originally, the shelter was due to open in July. The county formerly housed animals with the Humane Society.

The two organizations since have split, and the newly renamed Humane Society of Northeast Georgia has become an independent, selective admission shelter. The Humane Society now serves Hall, Jackson, Banks, Lumpkin, Habersham, White, Rabun and Stephens counties.